Railway-gate operator.



D. E. HUSK & T. C. COOPER.

RAILWAY GATE OPERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6. I916.

Patented Feb. 6,1917.

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ATTORNEYS D. E. HUSK & T. C. COOPER. RAILWAY GATE OPERATOR.

APPlLlCATlON FILED OCT. 6, 19l6- 11..,@15.l5?. Patented Feb. 6,1917;

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DAYTON E. HUSK and THo As. C. COOPER, citizens of the United States, and residents of Easton, in the county of Northampton, State of Pennsylvania, and of Newark, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, respectively, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Railway-Gate Operators, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the operation of railway gates at crossings, and one of the main objects thereof is to provide operating means which are entirely automatic in action whereby the human element is removed, although -we may provide sup lemental operating control means manna y -operable, as in a signal tower, or switchtower.

A further object is to provide such operating means not requiring any change whatever in the train equipment over that normally carried, nor any additional rails for the track equipment, nor any trips or the equivalent.

A further object is to provide such operating means adaptable to the block system in general use though not limited to railways employing the block system.

A further object is to provide such operating means utilizing parts readily procurable in the open market and not requiring special parts not so procurable.

A further object is to provide such oper, ating means controlled by an adjustable time relay whereby the duration -of gate closure is positive in each operation.

A further object is to provide both visible and audible signals, the latter being adapted to be energized both day and night whereas the former is adapted to be energized only at night through the medium of a selenium cell.

And further objects are to provide such operating means which are simple in con struction and installation, which are positive in action, which are unaffected by climatic conditions, and whichare comparatively inexpensive.

Our invention is fully described in the following specification, of which the ac Specification of letters Patent.

with, and electric lamps Patented rat, a, rear,

Application filed catcher e, 191 c. Serial No. 124,037.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, with the gate open, partly broken away to show a detail;

Fig. 4 is a similar section with the closed, also partly broken away; 1

Fig. 5 is a section taken onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and Fig 6 is a diagrammatic view of our system.

Referring to the drawings,

one rail and 8 the other of a railway divided into blocks by insulation 9, 1t), and 11, between adjacent sections of desired lengths whereby the gates may be operated by a train going in either direction, as will be described, and as usually provided ad aCent road crossings of the right of way are gates one of which is shown at 12 carried by a pivot 13 rotatable in a gate box 14 having an electric bell 15 connected there- -l6 visible along the track and 17 visible along the crossing road.

The gate 12 carries counterweights 18 the tendency of which is to open the gates when permitted to do so, and the pivot 13, within the box 14 carries an arm 19 20 at the end thereof adapted to be engaged .by a hooked latch 21 pivoted at 22 and opening or closing in order to cushion the.

same.

of conductive material having an insulating block 29 at its lower end, the function of wvhich is to open the motor circuit while the gate is closed and to close this circuit when the gate is open or partially so, as far as it is Within the breaker to do so.

The pivot 13 carries a fixed gear 30 enmeshed through a train of gears with a pinion 31 on a drive shaft 32 of an elec tric motor 33 arranged in a circuit including main wires 34 and 35 from a suitable source of electrical energy, not shown, a motor starter 36 of any desired form, a wire 37, a wire 38 leading through a desired resistance 39, and a wire 40 terminated at a contact 41 against which the quadrant 28 bears, the main wire 35 being in electrical connection with said quadrant.

The wire 37 is in electrical connection ability of this circuit having a tooth The ivot 13 also carries .a quadrant 28 with a wire 42 leading to one terminal of the bell 15 to the other terminal of which Y a wire 44 is connected and led through a suitable resistance 45, and it will be seen that, when the motor 33 is energized, the bell 15 is likewise energized, this being to close the gate and, when the" gate is entirely closed, the insulated end 29 of the quadrant 28 breaks the motor circuit and both motor and bell are deenergized, while the gate is closed.

The wire 42 leads to an. armature 47 of an electromagnet 48, whereas the wire 44 is in electrical connection with a main wire 35 by means of a wire 46, said electromagnet having a wire 49 connected thereto and leads to a source of electrical energy 50 and a wire 51 leads'to said source through a selenium cell 52, the wire 44 of the bell circuit leading to a lamp, or series of lamps, 16 or 17, the other wire 54 ofwhichpasses to a contact 55 adapted to be electrically engaged by the armature 47 and it will be seen that in daylight the circuit through the electromagnet 48 and selenium cell 52 is closed whereby the circuit through the lamp is opened by the armature 47 and said lamp will not be energized even though the bell 15 be energized.

At night, however, the circuit through the electromagnet 48 and selenium cell is broken, with the result that the armature 47 may close the lamp circuit, as far as it is able to do so, whereby the lamp will be energized whenever the bell is during the motor 33 energization.

The motor starter 36 has a wire 56 leading from one terminal to an armature 57 of an electromagnet 58 and adapted, when the electromagnet 58 is energized, to bear on a contact 59 from which a wire 60 extends to the other terminal of the motor starter 36, and it will be seen that the latter is energized only when the electromagnet 58 is energized, the wire 60 passing through a source of electrical energy 61.

The armature 57 is normally held against a contact 62 by means of a spring 63 from which contact a wire 64 leads to one terminal of an electromagnet 65 of which the lower end of the latch 21 is the armature, a wire 66 leading from said electromagnet 65 through a source of electrical energy 67 to the wire 56 and it will be seen that when the electromagnet 58 is not energized the electromagnet 65 is energized and the latch '21 is withdrawn from the tooth 20 of the gate arm 19 torelease the gate and permit its rise by means of the counter weights 18, the latch 21 being shown about to be so rocked on its pivot in Fig. 6 to correspond with its position in Figs. 3 and 4.

One terminal of the electromagnet 58 has a wire 68 led through a source 69 of electrical energy to an armature 70 of a time relay 71 of any desired form, many different forms of which are on the market, said armature 70 being normally free from but adapted to bear on a Contact 72 from which leads a wire 73 to the other terminal of the electromagnet 58, and it will be seen that when the time relay is energized the armature 70 closes the circuit through the electromagnet 58 and the armature 57 is moved to close the circuit through the -motor starter 36 and to open the circuit through the electromagnet 65 to permit the latch 21 to move into gate arm engaging position and, at the same time, the motor 33 is actuated as well as the bell 15, and the lamp at night, until the gate is closed when the insulation 29 on the quadrant 28 breaks the motor circuit, the bell circuit, and the lamp circuit.

Leading from one terminal of the time an 71 is a wire 74 thrciugh a source of electrical energy 75 and to a. bell-crank armature 76 of an electromagnet 77 adapted to impinge on a contact 78 connected with the other terminal of the time relay 71 by means of a wire 79 and, when the electromagnet 77 is deenergized, the circuit through the time relay is closed thus moving the armature 70 to'hold the circuit through the electromagnet 58 closed for the period for which the time relay is set, and thus closing the gate, actuating the signals, and holding the gate closed until the set period has expired whereupon the released armature 70 deenergizes the electromagnet 58 and the armature 57 thereof closes the cir-.

cuit throughthe electromagnet 65 to swing The electromagnet 77 is in electrical connection with the rails 7 and 8 of the block 80 by means of wires 81 and 82, respectively, and said rails form part of an electrical circuit through a wire 83, source of energy 84 and a wire 85 which is always closed through the electromagnet 7 7 but, if the gap between the rails 7 and S of the block 80 be bridged, as by a train or by wires 86 and 87 through a normally open switch 88 .in a tower, the current following the line of least resistance will not be strong enough in the electromagnet 77 to hold the armature 76 in attracted position and said armature 76 will then drop to close the circuit through the time relay 71, to close the gate and hold it closed during the period for which the time relay was set, as already described.

Connected with the wire 74 through the trical energy ,through wires 96 and 97 and having'als'o wires'98 and 99 leading therefrom to amanually operable switch 100 in a tower, this arrangement being the duplicate of that for the block 80 and being intended fora train moving in a direction opposite to that of the train operating the block 80 system.

As may be conjectured, a train moving into the block 80 will start the gate closure and when it reaches the block 94 it would again hold such closure, but allowance must be made for the lengths of the blocks and the time for which the relay 71 is set, the blocks only serving to close the gate and not serving in any degree as gate openers, this being entirely within'the control of the time I relay 71.

I a car'on said ralls, a time relay closed position, and

, lectricity 'to As stated, the apparatus is very simple and may be compactly stored within the gate box, if desired,v and very little current is required-to actuate the parts other than the motor itself and, while separate sources of electrical energy are shown for the electromag Bt and time relay, this is'merely for clearness of description, and we reserve the right to reduce the number of individual sources of energy shown and altering the wiring accordingly, this being arbitrary and well within the ability of a skilled electrician. i

Also, while we have shown the apparatus applied to a single track railway, it can be applied to a multiple track railway with equal facility or as a matter of fact, with greater facility, but this also is arbitrary.

Our'invention centers on the time and relies also upon the known tendency of follow the line of least resistance, but we do not seek to confine ourselves to this last feature, as other means well within the skill of an electrician will serve to control the energization of the electro-magnets 77 or 91 and which, in turn, control the time relay.

Having fully described our invention, What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

The combination with the rails and gates of a railway, of an electric motor in a normally open circuit for closing said gates, means for closing said circuit controlled by for holding said circuit closed for a predetermined period, a latch for locking said gates" in means controlled by said relay for disengaging said latch at the end of said period to permit said gates to open.

2. The combination with the rails and gates of a railway, of an electric motor in a normally open circuit for closing said gates,

- lay for releasing said electro magnet inoperative,

relay, gates of a railway,

, gates of a railway,

tit

a time relay for closing said circuit and, holding the same closed for a predetermined period, means for locking said gates in closed position, means controlled by said relay for operating said locking means to release said gates at the end of-said period-to permit said gates to open, and an electromagnet normally energized through said rails for normally preventing the energization of said relay. v 3. The I combination with the rails and" gates of a railway, of an electric motor a normally open circuit for-closingsaid gates, a. time relay for closing said circuit and '75. holding the same closed for a predetermined; period, means for locking said gates in closed position, means controlled by said resaid locking meansto release said gates. at the end of said period to. permit said gates to open, an electromagnet normally energized. through said rails for normally preventing the energization of said relay, and means for rendering said electromagnet inoperative to permit the closing of motor circuit. I 4. The combination with the rails and gates of a railway, of an electric motor ina normally open circuit for closing said gates, an electro-magnet, for preventing the closing of the motor circuit, normallyenergized throngh said rails, means for rendering said and time controlled means for closing said motor circuit operable when said electro-magnet is rendered inoperative.

5. The combination with the rails and of an electric motor in'a normally open circuit for closing said gates, means controlled through said rails for'closing said circuit, means on said gates for opening said circuit when said gates "are closed, and means for holding said gates closed for a predetermined period. p

he combination with the rails and of an electric motor in a normally open circuit for closing said'gates, means controlled through said rails for closing said circuit, aconductive quadrant car-' ried by said gates provided with a non-conductive outer end arranged in said circuit and adapted to openthe same when said 

